Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 8:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 8:32 p.m.

A Spartanburg man accused of holding up a Waffle House testified Wednesday in his own defense.

Kenneth Jowan Craig, 30, of 408 Abner Road, Apt. A-36, said he did not participate in the robbery, nor did he know about it when he drove Dante Lamont Williams, 19, of Roebuck and another man to the Waffle House at 2230 Chesnee Highway in the early morning hours of Jan. 21, 2012.

A restaurant customer fatally shot Williams and thwarted the robbery.

Justin Michael Harrison, 24, of Boiling Springs, testified Tuesday that he feared for his life and shot one suspect who was armed. Harrison also tried to stop the second suspect from fleeing the scene. Harrison said he was certain the man who fled was Craig.

Craig is on trial for several counts of attempted armed robbery and armed robbery. But Craig claimed he dropped off Williams and another man he said participated in the robbery. The third man has not been charged.

Craig said he left both men at the restaurant, pulled out of the parking lot and headed back toward Spartanburg.

Witnesses have testified that two masked men entered the restaurant, ordering people to the floor and threatening to shoot them. Several people were inside — six employees and seven others.

Witnesses said one robber had a gun; another carried a bag. A partial print was lifted from the bag, but does not match Craig, Williams or the third man who Craig has implicated.

An expert in fingerprint analysis testified partial prints are common and the print on the bag could have been left by various sources. He also said someone wearing gloves would not have left prints.

The clothes Craig was wearing around the time of the crime were taken after his arrest.

Craig's attorney, Richard Whelchel, asked that the clothing not be admitted into evidence because all the items were bagged together, rather than separately.

Circuit Court Judge Roger Couch denied Whelchel's request.

An expert in gunshot residue analysis testified that gunshot reside was found on Craig's blue jeans.

Harrison earlier testified that Craig placed his hands on Harrison's handgun, which was fired during their struggle.

Jurors heard that Craig's criminal record includes possession of crack and providing false information. The jury did not hear that Craig also was convicted in California of assaulting someone with a firearm, resulting in great bodily injury, as well as possession of a sawed off shotgun.

On the stand, Craig said he was young when he was convicted for the false information charge. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Jordan pointed out that Craig was around the age Williams was when he was killed.

One witness testified Tuesday that she overheard the men discuss a “mission” before leaving in dark clothing and Williams returned about five minutes later for gloves. Craig said she and another witness had lied.

Craig said he had known Williams about a week before the incident.

Craig claimed the night before the shooting, he and Williams took a shortcut from a residence on Alexander Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue. Both roads are off Union Street.

Craig said he, Williams and the third man he identified as the suspect sat in a car, drank beer and smoked marijuana. Craig said later that night the third man wanted to go to Cowpens and Craig headed there, driving north on Highway 221. Craig said he stopped to get gas and after refueling the car, the third man told him to drop him and Williams off at a nearby Waffle House.

Craig said he didn't know they were going to rob the restaurant before he dropped them off. Just moments later, while stopped at a nearby red light, Craig said he saw police cars as law enforcement responded to the crime scene and turned to drive back. He said he was unable to pull into the parking lot, which had been blocked off. He said he drove further up Highway 221, turned onto a road and said the third man ran was almost hit after he ran out in front of the car.

Craig said he was shocked. He said they drove back to Spartanburg, he dropped the third man off at the shortcut from Alexander Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue, and returned to a residence where Williams' family members were.

Craig said he stayed there until an officer picked him up at 11 p.m. that night. He then met with two investigators, but had nothing to tell them. He said investigators interviewed him about five minutes before he was arrested and did not ask him about a robbery.

Under cross-examination, Jordan noted inconsistencies in Craig's testimony and a police statement he provided in February 2012.

Craig admitted he did not tell them that Williams might be dead.

“I was on probation,” he said. “I was scared.”

The defense also called two people who were working at the Waffle House the morning the robbery occurred. One man testified he was 6 feet 1 inch tall and said both suspects were around the same height and not much shorter than him. He was unable to positively identify Craig as a suspect.

Another witness testified the suspect with a bag was taller than the armed suspect. She also said both suspects were about the same height. Under cross-examination, she said from her perspective, one suspect appeared several inches shorter than her former coworker.

An investigator with the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office said Williams was 71 inches long, or about 5 feet 9 inches.

Craig, who's called Midget, testified that he is around 5 feet 6 inches in height.

Whelchel said in court that the prosecution made a plea offer with the recommendation of a 20-year sentence, but Craig rejected the offer.

<p>A Spartanburg man accused of holding up a Waffle House testified Wednesday in his own defense.</p><p>Kenneth Jowan Craig, 30, of 408 Abner Road, Apt. A-36, said he did not participate in the robbery, nor did he know about it when he drove Dante Lamont Williams, 19, of Roebuck and another man to the Waffle House at 2230 Chesnee Highway in the early morning hours of Jan. 21, 2012.</p><p>A restaurant customer fatally shot Williams and thwarted the robbery.</p><p>Justin Michael Harrison, 24, of Boiling Springs, testified Tuesday that he feared for his life and shot one suspect who was armed. Harrison also tried to stop the second suspect from fleeing the scene. Harrison said he was certain the man who fled was Craig.</p><p>Craig is on trial for several counts of attempted armed robbery and armed robbery. But Craig claimed he dropped off Williams and another man he said participated in the robbery. The third man has not been charged.</p><p>Craig said he left both men at the restaurant, pulled out of the parking lot and headed back toward Spartanburg.</p><p>Witnesses have testified that two masked men entered the restaurant, ordering people to the floor and threatening to shoot them. Several people were inside — six employees and seven others.</p><p>Witnesses said one robber had a gun; another carried a bag. A partial print was lifted from the bag, but does not match Craig, Williams or the third man who Craig has implicated.</p><p>An expert in fingerprint analysis testified partial prints are common and the print on the bag could have been left by various sources. He also said someone wearing gloves would not have left prints.</p><p>The clothes Craig was wearing around the time of the crime were taken after his arrest.</p><p>Craig's attorney, Richard Whelchel, asked that the clothing not be admitted into evidence because all the items were bagged together, rather than separately.</p><p>Circuit Court Judge Roger Couch denied Whelchel's request.</p><p>An expert in gunshot residue analysis testified that gunshot reside was found on Craig's blue jeans.</p><p>Harrison earlier testified that Craig placed his hands on Harrison's handgun, which was fired during their struggle.</p><p>Jurors heard that Craig's criminal record includes possession of crack and providing false information. The jury did not hear that Craig also was convicted in California of assaulting someone with a firearm, resulting in great bodily injury, as well as possession of a sawed off shotgun.</p><p>On the stand, Craig said he was young when he was convicted for the false information charge. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Jordan pointed out that Craig was around the age Williams was when he was killed.</p><p>Craig denied asking Williams “Do you want to go hit a lick for your birthday?”</p><p>One witness testified Tuesday that she overheard the men discuss a “mission” before leaving in dark clothing and Williams returned about five minutes later for gloves. Craig said she and another witness had lied.</p><p>Craig said he had known Williams about a week before the incident.</p><p>Craig claimed the night before the shooting, he and Williams took a shortcut from a residence on Alexander Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue. Both roads are off Union Street.</p><p>Craig said he, Williams and the third man he identified as the suspect sat in a car, drank beer and smoked marijuana. Craig said later that night the third man wanted to go to Cowpens and Craig headed there, driving north on Highway 221. Craig said he stopped to get gas and after refueling the car, the third man told him to drop him and Williams off at a nearby Waffle House.</p><p>Craig said he didn't know they were going to rob the restaurant before he dropped them off. Just moments later, while stopped at a nearby red light, Craig said he saw police cars as law enforcement responded to the crime scene and turned to drive back. He said he was unable to pull into the parking lot, which had been blocked off. He said he drove further up Highway 221, turned onto a road and said the third man ran was almost hit after he ran out in front of the car.</p><p>Craig claimed the man told him, “I think (Dante's) dead. We got to tell the family.”</p><p>Craig said he was shocked. He said they drove back to Spartanburg, he dropped the third man off at the shortcut from Alexander Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue, and returned to a residence where Williams' family members were.</p><p>Craig said he stayed there until an officer picked him up at 11 p.m. that night. He then met with two investigators, but had nothing to tell them. He said investigators interviewed him about five minutes before he was arrested and did not ask him about a robbery.</p><p>Under cross-examination, Jordan noted inconsistencies in Craig's testimony and a police statement he provided in February 2012.</p><p>Craig admitted he did not tell them that Williams might be dead.</p><p>“I was on probation,” he said. “I was scared.”</p><p>The defense also called two people who were working at the Waffle House the morning the robbery occurred. One man testified he was 6 feet 1 inch tall and said both suspects were around the same height and not much shorter than him. He was unable to positively identify Craig as a suspect.</p><p>Another witness testified the suspect with a bag was taller than the armed suspect. She also said both suspects were about the same height. Under cross-examination, she said from her perspective, one suspect appeared several inches shorter than her former coworker.</p><p>An investigator with the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office said Williams was 71 inches long, or about 5 feet 9 inches.</p><p>Craig, who's called Midget, testified that he is around 5 feet 6 inches in height.</p><p>Whelchel said in court that the prosecution made a plea offer with the recommendation of a 20-year sentence, but Craig rejected the offer.</p>